Jesuit Social Services says the Allan Government’s decision to abandon plans to raise the age of criminal responsibility in Victoria to 14 is “deeply disappointing”.
Premier Jacinta Allan on Tuesday said the legislation before Parliament would raise the age of criminal responsibility to 12 but would not go any further, the Herald Sun reports.
“That is where it will stay,” she said.
Ms Allan said an initial pledge by former premier Daniel Andrews to raise the age to 14 was no longer appropriate.
“This decision has been made at a different time by a different government and a different premier,” she said.
Jesuit Social Services acting chief Stephen Ward said the organisation had advocated for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised in every state and territory across the country for more than a decade.
He said Jesuit Social Services had held this position “since we conducted research that found that children who are arrested before they turn 14 are three times more likely to re-offend as adults than children arrested after they turn 14”.
“Raising the age of criminal responsibility to 14 is in line with international human rights standards and expert medical evidence around children’s brain development,” Mr Ward said.
He said the Allan Government’s decision would mean that “more children will have unnecessary contact with the youth justice system when they need to be supported in the community to remain connected with education and family to give them the best chance to lead safe and healthy lives.”
“While we are pleased that Victoria plans to raise the age from 10 to 12 this year, as part of the Youth Justice Bill which is currently progressing through Parliament, the job is only half done unless we commit to the second stage of the reform by raising the age to 14, with no exceptions.
“This will better meet the needs of children, their families, victims of crime and the broader community.”
FULL STORY
Watering down of landmark youth justice reform won’t create stronger communities (Jesuit Social Services)
Allan Government backflips on plan to raise age of criminal responsibility to 14 (By Shannon Deery, Carly Douglas, Mitch Clarke and Regan Hodge, Herald Sun)
